Taliban hold one missing soldier, 2nd killed – spokesman

July 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 25 (Reuters) – One of two U.S. soldiers who went missing in Afghanistan was a captive of the Taliban and the other had been killed, a spokesman for the insurgents said on Sunday.

The Taliban leadership would decide later on the fate of the captive, Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by phone from an undisclosed location.

The two U.S. servicemen were reported missing on Friday after failing to return in a vehicle they had taken from their compound in Kabul, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Saturday. [ID:nSGE66N02C] (Reporting by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by David Fox) (sayed.salahuddin@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 285)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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Taliban seize key district in Afghan east

July 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

KABUL, July 25 (Reuters) – Taliban guerrillas have captured a strategic district from the Afghan government after days of clashes in eastern Nuristan province, officials said on Sunday.

Separately, the Afghan government said it was checking reports by locals saying some 40 Afghan civilians were killed in a raid by foreign forces in Sangin district of southern Helmand province on Friday.

In Nuristan’s Barg-e Matal, dozens of Taliban fighters and up to six Afghan police were killed during days of clashes before the district fell to the Taliban overnight.

Barg-e Matal is important for the government and militants because of its location and has regularly changed hands.

Lying near the border with Pakistan, the rugged district has been used as a supply route for arms and fighters for the Taliban in three provinces, most importantly for Badakhshan where the Taliban have mounted a series of deadly attacks recently.

Afghan police forces withdrew from Barg-e Matal to avoid high casualties and in the face of sustained Taliban pressure after days of skirmishes, interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told reporters.

“Right now the police forces in Nuristan are working to recapture it,” he said.

The Taliban have yet to comment about the fall of the district and the reported losses in their ranks.

In Helmand province, where the Taliban insurgency is strongest, Bashary said provincial authorities were checking reports by residents that dozens of civilians were killed in a raid by foreign forces on Friday.

Further details were not immediately available. (Reporting by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by Sugita Katyal) (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here) (sayed.salahuddin@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 285)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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Afghan troops to lead security by 2014-communique

July 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 20 (Reuters) – The international conference in Afghanistan will agree on Tuesday that Afghan forces should begin taking security responsiblity in some areas by the end of this year and should lead security operations in all provinces by the end of 2014, according to a copy of the final communique.

“Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) should lead and conduct military operations in all provinces by the end of 2014,” said the communique, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

(reporting by Jonathon Burch; editing by Andrew Quinn; via Kabul newsroom +93794354074)

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Afghanistan has enough funding for next 3 years-President

July 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 20 (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai told an international conference on Tuesday that Afghans wanted to have responsibility for their own security by 2014.

“I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement

operations throughout our country by 2014,” he told the conference, called to discus how much more responsibility to give Afghanistan for its own affairs. (Reporting by David Fox; Editing by Michael Urquhart) (david.fox@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 284)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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Afghan and NATO forces ready security for Kabul Conference

July 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Afghan and foreign forces are stepping up security in the Afghan capital for the biggest international conference in decades this week, where delegates will thrash out plans for handing more responsibility for the country to the government.

Over 60 envoys, among them some 40 foreign ministers and including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are expected to attend the conference on Tuesday, co-chaired by President Hamid Karzai and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

With violence at its worst levels since the Taliban were overthrown in late 2001, western diplomats are lauding the fact the conference is taking place in Kabul at all and the Afghan government is keen to see it run smoothly.

A major attack could be a disaster for the government and could score a valuable propaganda point for the insurgents.

While they say all necessary steps to thwart an assault on the day have been taken, both Afghan and NATO forces acknowledge they cannot be everywhere at once.

That message hit home on Sunday when in the latest spell of violence a suicide bomber killed two civilians and wounded several more, including a child, in a residential area in the capital, close to the U.S. embassy, the Interior Ministry said.

“We are 100 percent prepared but this doesn’t mean everything will go exactly to plan. We will try to do our best and we will also rely on the support of God,” said Zemarai Bashary, spokesman for the Interior Ministry which runs the police force.

PREPARE FOR ATTACK

NATO’s top civilian representative in Afghanistan said insurgents would try to launch an attack and no amount of security preparations could be infallible.

“We have to prepare ourselves for the fact that the insurgents are going to seek to disrupt this,” Mark Sedwill told reporters over the weekend.

“Nobody is going to offer a 100 percent guarantee, but they (security precautions) are very extensive and indeed intensive.”

Bashary said all police officers had been placed on “high alert” and had already taken up their positions in a “ring of steel” around the city. Policemen from other units such as the anti-narcotics police, would also be on standby, he said.

While Western forces are keen to point out the conference security plans have been drawn up by the Afghans, NATO said its troops would be out on the streets with their Afghan counterparts and would have a “quick reaction force” on standby.

NATO helicopters will also be circling over the city in a “show of force” to try and deter an attack, said Lieutenant Commander Katie Kendrick, a spokeswoman for NATO-led forces.

“NATO forces are also ready to assist the Afghan government with any other assets,” she said. Bashary said the ministry had not received any specific threats against the conference, but NATO forces said they had captured several militants inside the capital over the weekend who were planning to attack the meeting.

While not able to completely disrupt it, insurgents fired rockets and tried to stage a suicide attack on a peace “jirga,” or meeting, of tribal elders last month, while Karzai was addressing the gathering.

The attack was quickly suppressed but caused embarrassment for the government and led to the resignations of the interior minister and the head of the country’s intelligence service. Karzai will want to avoid a repeat of the incident.

(Writing by Jonathon Burch; Editing by David Fox)

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Afghan, NATO forces ready security before Kabul Conference

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 18 (Reuters) – Afghan and foreign forces are stepping up security in the Afghan capital for the biggest international conference in decades this week, where delegates will thrash out plans for handing more responsibility for the country to the government. Over 60 envoys, among them some 40 foreign ministers and including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are expected to attend the conference on Tuesday, co-chaired by President Hamid Karzai and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

With violence at its worst levels since the Taliban were overthrown in late 2001, western diplomats are lauding the fact the conference is taking place in Kabul at all and the Afghan government is keen to see it run smoothly.

A major attack could be a disaster for the government and could score a valuable propaganda point for the insurgents.

While they say all necessary steps to thwart an assault on the day have been taken, both Afghan and NATO forces acknowledge they cannot be everywhere at once. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For Kabul Conference stories, see [ID:nKABCON]

For more on Afghanistan click [ID:nAFPAK]

or see link.reuters.com/syx62d

Afghan blog: blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

That message hit home on Sunday when in the latest spell of violence a suicide bomber killed two civilians and wounded several more, including a child, in a residential area in the capital, close to the U.S. embassy, the Interior Ministry said.

“We are 100 percent prepared but this doesn’t mean everything will go exactly to plan. We will try to do our best and we will also rely on the support of God,” said Zemarai Bashary, spokesman for the Interior Ministry which runs the police force.

PREPARE FOR ATTACK

NATO’s top civilian representative in Afghanistan said insurgents would try to launch an attack and no amount of security preparations could be infallible.

“We have to prepare ourselves for the fact that the insurgents are going to seek to disrupt this,” Mark Sedwill told reporters over the weekend.

“Nobody is going to offer a 100 percent guarantee, but they (security precautions) are very extensive and indeed intensive.”

Bashary said all police officers had been placed on “high alert” and had already taken up their positions in a “ring of steel” around the city. Policemen from other units such as the anti-narcotics police, would also be on standby, he said.

While Western forces are keen to point out the conference security plans have been drawn up by the Afghans, NATO said its troops would be out on the streets with their Afghan counterparts and would have a “quick reaction force” on standby.

NATO helicopters will also be circling over the city in a “show of force” to try and deter an attack, said Lieutenant Commander Katie Kendrick, a spokeswoman for NATO-led forces.

“NATO forces are also ready to assist the Afghan government with any other assets,” she said. Bashary said the ministry had not received any specific threats against the conference, but NATO forces said they had captured several militants inside the capital over the weekend who were planning to attack the meeting.

While not able to completely disrupt it, insurgents fired rockets and tried to stage a suicide attack on a peace “jirga”, or meeting, of tribal elders last month, while Karzai was addressing the gathering.

The attack was quickly suppressed but caused embarrassment for the government and led to the resignations of the interior minister and the head of the country’s intelligence service. Karzai will want to avoid a repeat of the incident. (Writing by Jonathon Burch; Editing by David Fox) (jonathon.burch@thomsonreuters.com; +93 794 354 074; Reuters Messaging: jonathon.burch.reuters.com@reuters.net) (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to newsfeedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, July 18

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 18 (Reuters) – Following are security developments in Afghanistan reported at 1000 GMT on Sunday.

KABUL – A suicide bomb blast aimed at a convoy of foreign forces killed four Afghan civilians in a crowded part of the capital on Sunday, a police source said. There was no immediate word about casualties among the troops.

KANDAHAR – A roadside bomb killed a police officer and an Afghan civilian in the southern city of Kandahar on Sunday, an official said.

FARAH – Taliban guerrillas staged a series of attacks on police posts before blowing up the gate of a main prison in western Farah’s town on Sunday, an official said. Twenty-three inmates initially managed to escape, but some were rearrested, he said.

FARAH – Afghan police killed a would-be suicide bomber before he could ram a car laden with explosives against a convoy of Afghan police in an area of Farah on Saturday, the interior ministry said.

BAGHLAN – Afghan and foreign forces killed five insurgents during an operation on Friday to the north of Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital of northern Baghlan, the ministry said.

ZABUL – Taliban guerrillas killed four police in an attack in an area of southern Zabul province on Friday, the ministry said separately.

(Compiled by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

(For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here)

(sayed.salahuddin@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 285))

If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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INTERVIEW-Afghans ready for more responsibility – U.N. envoy

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

KABUL, July 18 (Reuters) – Afghanistan should be given more responsibility for its own security and administration with progress checked against six-month benchmarks, the United Nations’ top diplomat to the country said.

With around 150,000 NATO-led troops faced off against a Taliban insurgency at its strongest since their overthrow in 2001, Western governments are keen to pull out but fear the Afghans are not yet ready to take more charge.

“It is a chicken and egg situation, but the chicken is saying ‘we are ready to produce an egg’,” Staffan de Mistura, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special representative for Afghanistan, told Reuters in an interview.

Over 60 foreign ministers — including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — gather in the Afghan capital on Tuesday for a conference at which President Hamid Karzai will plead for more control of $13 billion in Afghan aid and development.

The country has received over $40 billion since 2002, but Karzai says the government has handled only around 20 percent of that and much of the graft and waste complained about in the West was lost through direct channels. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For Kabul Conference stories, see [ID:nKABCON]

For more on Afghanistan click [ID:nAFPAK]

or see link.reuters.com/syx62d

Afghan blog: blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

“They have a point,” de Mistura said, arguing that if the government institutions were seen to be driving development, ordinary Afghans would support it.

He drew parallels with Iraq, where he served as the U.N. special envoy at the height of violence there.

“The moment they started taking their own future in their hands, we saw an improvement — not perfect by any means, but an improvement.”

NOT READY FOR PEACE

Security remains the biggest factor.

“We all know, everybody knows, everybody recognises, that there is no military solution to the conflict.”

“However there is, unfortunately, still a perception that the time for dialogue is not ready. The Taliban don’t seem to be indicating yet that they are readly for that dialogue.”

Although Washington did not want to see the Taliban leadership included in peace talks, it would be up to Afghans to decide “who was allowed inside the tent”, he said.

The government has offered amnesty and reintegration to low-level Taliban fighters who agree to abide by the constitution, renounce violence, and quit militant groups.

Asked if this should be expanded to Taliban leaders, he said: “… if anybody on the Afghan side would accept those three conditions, it would be difficult for the community … to say you aren’t allowed inside the tent.

The conference will hear Karzai and his ministers present blueprint of projects and timetables de Mistura believes could deliver results within a year.

Asked what differences he expected in six months, he said:

“First we will see the Afghans taking much more seriously the fact that responsibilty has been given to them and therefore they need to make some major effort on the issue of accountability, corruption and delivering concrete assistance to their own people.

“Second, I hope we will be seeing progress on security, and therefore the ideal time for political dialogue, but between now and six months on the security side it will probably look worse before it looks better.

“What we need before the six months is over is … a vision by the Afghan government which will be articulated in a way that will engage and reassure every stakeholder — both internally and outside, and regional stakeholders as well — of what Afghanistan can and should be looking like in two years time,” he said. (Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

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Suicide bomber kills four civilians in Kabul

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed four civilians in an attack apparently aimed at a convoy of foreign forces on Sunday, security sources said.

The attack happened opposite a clinic on a road often used by foreign troops, one said, adding four more civilians were wounded.

There were no immediate word about casualties among the foreign forces, he said. The site of the attack was cordoned off.

A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said they were aware of the incident but had no details immediately.

The blast took place just two days before dozens of foreign ministers — including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Secretary of state Hillary Clinton — were due in the capital for an international conference of Afghanistan’s future.

Some 150,000 foreign troops are squared off against a Taliban insurgency at its strongest since the hardline Islamists were overthrown by a U.S.-led force in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

(Reporting by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by David Fox)

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Bomb kills four civilians in Afghan capital

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 18 (Reuters) – A bomb killed four civilians in a crowded part of the Afghan capital on Sunday, security sources said.

It happened opposite a clinic on a road often used by foreign forces, one said.

The blast took place just two days before dozens of foreign ministers — including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton — were due in the capital for an international conference of Afghanistan’s future.

Some 150,000 foreign troops are squared off against a Taliban insurgency at its strongest since the hardline Islamists were overthrown by a U.S.-led force in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. (Reporting by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by David Fox and Jonathan Thatcher) (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here) (sayed.salahuddin@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 285)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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Taliban hit Afghan police posts; free 23 prisoners

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

HERAT, Afghanistan, July 18 (Reuters) – Taliban guerrillas staged a series of raids in western Afghanistan on Sunday, blowing up the gate of a jail and freeing 23 insurgent prisoners, officials said.

Ousted in a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, the Taliban have made a comeback in recent years, dealing heavy losses to Afghan and foreign forces and carrying out brazen attacks on key locations, including in the capital.

Insurgents attacked four police posts leading to the centre of Farah town early on Sunday, said Mohammad Younus Rasooli, the governor of western Farah province, bordering Iran.

“They kept the police preoccupied and the same time blew up the gate of Farah’s jail, which resulted in the escape of 23 prisoners,” Rasooli told Reuters by phone.

Four of the inmates were immediately arrested because they had suffered wounds in the escape, he said, adding seven more were captured.

A policeman was killed during the incident, which lasted several hours, he said.

A spokesman for the Taliban, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, confirmed that members of the movement were behind the attacks. (Reporting by Sharafuddin Sharafyar; writing by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by David Fox) (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here) (sayed.salahuddin@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 285)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, July 10

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 10 (Reuters) – Following are security developments in Afghanistan reported at 1400 GMT on Saturday

(* denotes new item):

KABUL – Five members of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) died in separate attacks across the country on Saturday, the alliance said in a statement.

It said one service member died as a result of small-arms fire, another died following an improvised explosive device (IED) strike and a third following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan, while two service members died in IED strikes in the south.

* KABUL – An ISAF service member died following an accidental explosion in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the alliance said in a statement. (Compiled by David Fox; Editing by Alison Williams)

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Afghan Taliban kill 11 Pakistani travellers – official

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

KABUL, July 10 (Reuters) – Suspected Afghan Taliban insurgents killed 11 Pakistanis who crossed into Afghanistan in order to detour around a dangerous part of the border area, officials said on Saturday.

Paktia governor spokesman Rohullah Samon said gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying the travellers in Samkani district, as they made their way from Kurram to Peshawar via Afghanistan.

Tribesmen frequently take the circuitous Afghan route as the direct road linking the two regions is often the scene of Pakistan Taliban attacks on travellers.

While the Pakistan and Afghan Taliban are different organisations, they have close links and draw the overwhelming bulk of their fighters from the Pashtun ethnic group which was divided by a colonial-era border known as the Durand Line.

While Pakistan has taken some steps against its own Taliban insurgency, Kabul and its allies accuse Islamabad of secretly supporting the Afghan Taliban and giving sanctuary to their leadership.

Islamabad denies the charges, but Pakistan has long seen Afghanistan as “strategic depth” in case of war with its eastern neighbour, India. (Writing by David Fox; Editing by Jeremy Laurence) (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here)

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U.N. to cut staff in Afghanistan over security fears

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Already facing chronic staff shortages, the United Nations has said it plans to withdraw some of its foreign workers from Afghanistan following sustained reports of insurgent threats against its workforce.

In a report on Afghanistan released over the weekend, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world body continued to be a potential target for militant attacks across the country and it would be cutting the size of its international staff.

The United Nations evacuated hundreds of its staff last November, days after Taliban gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed a U.N. guesthouse in Kabul killing five of the organization’s foreign staff.

While scores of those workers have now returned to Afghanistan, others quit their posts over security fears or left after their contracts ran out, leaving the organization critically understaffed.

Credible reports of threats by militants “continue to mention that the United Nations presence country-wide is a possible target of further attacks,” said Ban in a quarterly report to the 15-nation U.N. Security Council.

“The volatile security environment translates into a high security risk for United Nations personnel, assets and operations.”

The United Nations was planning to relocate “certain support operations,” possibly in the next three months, to Kuwait, where the U.N. mission for Iraq is based, Ban said, adding the move would not affect the mission.

The report did not say how many foreign staff would likely be withdrawn but a U.N. spokesman in Kabul, Dan McNorton, said it “would not be that many,” adding those that would leave “don’t have to be in Afghanistan to carry out critical work.”

In March the United Nations said there were between 900 and 1,000 foreign staff in the country, short of the 1,100 before last year’s attack. McNorton did not have an exact number of how many staff were now based in the country.

However, the U.N. mission had trouble recruiting staff even before last year’s attack and Ban said candidates’ reluctance to move to Afghanistan because of security fears was hampering aid delivery on the ground.

As of May 16, the international staff vacancy rate was over one-third, at 39 percent, and the vacancy rate for Afghan employees stood at 30 percent, the report said.

Violence in Afghanistan is at its worst levels since the Taliban were overthrown in late 2001, with an “alarming” rise in insurgent bomb attacks as well as suicide raids, Ban also said in the report.

(Editing by David Fox and Peter Graff)

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U.N. to cut staff in Afghanistan over security fears

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 20 (Reuters) – Already facing chronic staff shortages, the United Nations has said it plans to withdraw some of its foreign workers from Afghanistan following sustained reports of insurgent threats against its workforce.

In a report on Afghanistan released over the weekend, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world body continued to be a potential target for militant attacks across the country and it would be cutting the size of its international staff.

The United Nations evacuated hundreds of its staff last November, days after Taliban gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed a U.N. guesthouse in Kabul killing five of the organisation’s foreign staff.

While scores of those workers have now returned to Afghanistan, others quit their posts over security fears or left after their contracts ran out, leaving the organisation critically understaffed. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For more on Afghanistan click [ID:nAFPAK]

or see link.reuters.com/syx62d

Afghan blog: blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

Credible reports of threats by militants “continue to mention that the United Nations presence country-wide is a possible target of further attacks,” said Ban in a quarterly report to the 15-nation U.N. Security Council.

“The volatile security environment translates into a high security risk for United Nations personnel, assets and operations.”

The United Nations was planning to relocate “certain support operations”, possibly in the next three months, to Kuwait, where the U.N. mission for Iraq is based, Ban said, adding the move would not affect the mission.

The report did not say how many foreign staff would likely be withdrawn but a U.N. spokesman in Kabul, Dan McNorton, said it “would not be that many”, adding those that would leave “don’t have to be in Afghanistan to carry out critical work”.

In March the United Nations said there were between 900 and 1,000 foreign staff in the country, short of the 1,100 before last year’s attack. McNorton did not have an exact number of how many staff were now based in the country.

However, the U.N. mission had trouble recruiting staff even before last year’s attack and Ban said candidates’ reluctance to move to Afghanistan because of security fears was hampering aid delivery on the ground.

As of May 16, the international staff vacancy rate was over one-third, at 39 percent, and the vacancy rate for Afghan employees stood at 30 percent, the report said.

Violence in Afghanistan is at its worst levels since the Taliban were overthrown in late 2001, with an “alarming” rise in insurgent bomb attacks as well as suicide raids, Ban also said in the report.[ID:nN19150109] (Editing by David Fox and Peter Graff)

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FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, June 20

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Following are security developments in Afghanistan reported at 0800 GMT on Sunday.

BADGHIS – More than 30 Afghan civilians were wounded during a clash between a group of pro-government militia and Taliban insurgents in northwestern Badghis province on Sunday. Three insurgents and a militia member were killed in the encounter, said Sharafuddin Majedi, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

HELMAND – Three Afghan civilians were killed and more than 20 wounded on Sunday in two separate blasts in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of southern Helmand, a provincial official said.

NANGARHAR – A rocket hit a residential area, killing two chidren and wounding four in eastern Nangarhar province overnight, the interior ministry said on Sunday.

HELMAND – A roadside bomb killed two civilians in Helmand on Saturday, the interior ministry said. (Compiled by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by David Fox) (sayed.salahuddin@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 285)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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CORRECTED-FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, June 15

June 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Following are security developments in Afghanistan reported at 1600 GMT on Tuesday (* denotes new or updated items):

KANDAHAR – A district chief and two other passengers were killed when their car was struck by an explosive device on Tuesday, the governor’s spokesman said.

* SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN – Two NATO-led service members were killed in separate insurgent attacks in the south of the country, the alliance said. EASTERN AFGHANISTAN – Two NATO-led service members were killed in separate insurgent attacks in the east of the country, the alliance said.

MAIDAN WARDAK – Four policemen were killed when their vehicle was struck by an explosive device on Monday in Maidan Wardak, west of Kabul, the Interior Ministry said.

GHAZNI – Taliban insurgents attacked an Afghan police post and killed five officers on Tuesday in Ghazni, southwest of Kabul, a provincial official said.

NANGARHAR – Five insurgents were killed on Monday in a clash with Afghan police and foreign troops in eastern Nangarhar province, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.

The clash erupted after the militants ambushed a convoy, it said, adding two Afghan police were also killed.

KAPISA – Afghan and foreign troops killed several insurgents overnight in Kapisa to the northeast of Kabul, the NATO-led force said on Tuesday.

HERAT – A roadside bomb killed two civilians in an area of western Herat on Monday, a provincial official said. (Compiled by Kabul Newsroom; Editing by David Fox)

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Afghanistan not prepared to go 10 years back, says Afghan MP

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kabul, June 6(ANI): Afghanistan’s Member of Parliament, Fawzia Kofi, has said that the nation or the Hamid Karzai-led Government is not ready to accept any path which threaten to throw the country back in time.

Kofi’s comments came after the Afghan’s Consultative Peace Jirga outlined a path for Karzai to negotiate with the Taliban, which included removal of senior Taliban figures from a United Nations blacklist and strengthening of Islamic law.

“This nation is not prepared to go 10 years back,” The Globe and Mail quoted Kofi, as saying.

“The delegates showed that they have already been influenced by Talibanization, making sure the insurgents’ ideology is included in these proposals. We cannot offer impunity to these people. They need to be equal before the law,” she added.

The jirga advised the government to act “immediately” on seeking the removal of the names of militant leaders from a blacklist drawn up by the UN Security Council in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US.

The list designated Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders, who were then based in Afghanistan, as terrorists, and helped to provide a UN-sanctioned justification for the US-led invasion of the country in November 2001. (ANI)

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Highlights of proposals for Afghan peace plan

June 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 4 (Reuters) – Afghan elders and other notables on Friday endorsed proposals by President Hamid Karzai to seek peace with the Taliban, despite the insurgents saying they will not negotiate until all foreign troops leave.[nSGE65307O]

Over 1,600 delegates to a traditional jirga (gathering) debated Karzai’s proposals for three days before agreeing on 200 points they want him to take further

Following are some of the highlights:

* The establishment of a permanent peace commission or other mechanism to take the peace process further.

* The release of prisoners held on false charges or the testimony of rivals.

* Call for both sides to stop fighting.

* Call for both sides to show flexibility and not set preconditions for talks.

* Urges the government to take measures to remove the names of certain insurgent leaders from a United Nations and United States blacklist.

* Calls on insurgents to renounce violence and ties to al Qaeda or other terrorist organisations.

* Peace deal must observe the rights of women and children.

* End to air strikes in civilian areas

* A stop to unneccessary house searches and wrongful arrests.

(Reporting by Sayed Salahuddin; Writing by David Fox; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani; david.fox@thomsonreuters.com; Kabul newsroom: +93 799 335 284)

(If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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Three killed, 12 injured in Kabul suicide attack

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kabul, May 18 (ANI): At least three persons were killed and scores other sustained injuries in a suicide attack which purportedly targeted US vehicles in the heavily fortified government area in Kabul on Tuesday.

According to initial reports, a suicide bomber rammed his explosives laden vehicle into another vehicle near the Afghan Energy and Water Ministry.

Abdul Ghafor Sayedzada, chief of Kabul police’s criminal investigation unit, said the blast was believed to have been targeted at US vehicles present in the area, which houses several government buildings and other important installations.

At least 12 injured persons have been admitted to hospitals across the city till reports last came in.

Unconfirmed reports said the Taliban has taken the responsibility for the suicide attack.

More details are awaited. (ANI)

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